Liquified gas dry cleaning system
First Claim
1. A system for cleaning an article with a cleaning fluid having a gaseous component and a liquid component comprising a compound of said gaseous component maintained at a pressure sufficiently elevated above atmospheric pressure to keep a portion of said compound in a liquid state, said system comprising:
- a pressure vessel having a sidewall defining an opening at one end and having an end wall at another end;
door means for closing said opening to provide a wash chamber pressurizable by said gaseous component;
a basket having apertures for passing said liquid component therethrough and connected to a drive shaft for rotation in said wash chamber, said basket being adapted to hold at least one article for contact with said liquid component, and said drive shaft passing through a passage in the end wall of said pressure vessel;
means for providing said cleaning fluid in said wash chamber at said elevated pressure;
bearing means for rotatably mounting said drive shaft;
drive means for rotating said drive shaft to cause the rotation of said basket; and
,seal means in said shaft passage for preventing the cleaning fluid from escaping from said pressure vessel through said shaft passage, said seal means including a first seal component adjacent to said wash chamber and a second seal component outboard of said first seal component to provide a sealant chamber therebetween, and supply means for providing a pressurized sealant fluid in said sealant chamber such that a pressure differential across said first seal component is substantially less than the pressure differential between said elevated pressure and atmospheric pressure.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for cleaning an article with cleaning fluid comprising a liquified gas, preferably carbon dioxide, maintained at a pressure elevated above atmospheric pressure in the wash chamber of a pressure vessel. A basket holding the article is rotated in the wash chamber by a drive shaft passing through a wall of the pressure vessel, and a seal mechanism for this passage prevents escape of the cleaning fluid. The seal mechanism includes a first seal component adjacent to the wash chamber and a second seal component outboard of the first seal component to provide a sealant chamber in which a pressurized sealant fluid is provided such that a pressure differential across the first seal component is substantially less than the pressure differential between the wash chamber and atmospheric pressure The sealant fluid may be a gaseous component or a liquid component of the cleaning fluid. Fluid and control systems are provided for automating washing, rinsing and sealing operations.
86 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for cleaning an article with a cleaning fluid having a gaseous component and a liquid component comprising a compound of said gaseous component maintained at a pressure sufficiently elevated above atmospheric pressure to keep a portion of said compound in a liquid state, said system comprising:
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a pressure vessel having a sidewall defining an opening at one end and having an end wall at another end; door means for closing said opening to provide a wash chamber pressurizable by said gaseous component; a basket having apertures for passing said liquid component therethrough and connected to a drive shaft for rotation in said wash chamber, said basket being adapted to hold at least one article for contact with said liquid component, and said drive shaft passing through a passage in the end wall of said pressure vessel; means for providing said cleaning fluid in said wash chamber at said elevated pressure; bearing means for rotatably mounting said drive shaft; drive means for rotating said drive shaft to cause the rotation of said basket; and
,seal means in said shaft passage for preventing the cleaning fluid from escaping from said pressure vessel through said shaft passage, said seal means including a first seal component adjacent to said wash chamber and a second seal component outboard of said first seal component to provide a sealant chamber therebetween, and supply means for providing a pressurized sealant fluid in said sealant chamber such that a pressure differential across said first seal component is substantially less than the pressure differential between said elevated pressure and atmospheric pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for cleaning an article with a cleaning fluid having a gaseous component and a liquid component comprising a compound of said gaseous component maintained at a pressure sufficiently elevated above atmospheric pressure to keep a portion of said compound in a liquid state, said method comprising:
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placing the article to be cleaned in a basket within a wash chamber of a pressure vessel, said pressure vessel having an opening providing access to said basket, and said basket having apertures for passing said liquid component therethrough and connected to a drive shaft rotatable mounted by bearing means for rotating the basket in said wash chamber; closing the opening of said pressure vessel with a door member to seal said wash chamber; providing said cleaning fluid in said wash chamber at said elevated pressure; rotating said drive shaft with a drive means to cause said basket to rotate in said wash chamber, said drive shaft passing through a passage in an end wall of said pressure vessel; and
,sealing said drive shaft passage with seal means to prevent said cleaning fluid from escaping from said pressure vessel through said shaft passage, said seal means including a first seal component adjacent to said wash chamber and a second seal component outboard of said first seal component to provide a sealant chamber therebetween, and said sealing step comprising introducing a pressurized sealant fluid into said sealant chamber such that a pressure differential across said first seal component is substantially less than a pressure differential between said elevated pressure and atmospheric pressure. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification